cummins



(No Model.) I, Y

B. P. GUMMINS. PERFORMING STAMP.-

Patented Nov. 29,1892.

27.72 WerfZLvrw T Ne: wams vErzRs co.. Pwooumo. wAsmMcTon. DA c.,

'(No'Moael.) sheets-sheet 3. B.- F.'CUMMINS. PERFORATING STAMP.

No. 486,858. Patented Nov. 29, 1892,.

WZ'ZL-esseez T71 ver-a or cams Pzrzns cu, Pnnro-m'm.. WASHINGTON, u. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. CUMMINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE B1 F. CUMMINS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PERFORATlNG-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,858, dated November 29,- 1892. Application filed March 28, 1892. Serial No. 426,711. (No model.)

To afZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that. I, BENJAMIN F. CUMMINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Performing-Stamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of hand-stamps for perforating checks or other papers with characters indicating numbers or other data, and wherein a single set of independently movable punches is employed in conjunction with a; single die-plate for all said punches for perforating the different characters, some of the punches being used and others not used for` making each character; and it relates more particularly to certain improvements upon the perforating-stamp of the class shown and described in Letters Patent Nos. 409,324 and 433,003, granted to C. C. Hill August 20, 1889,l and July 29, 1890, respectively.

The object of the present invention is to cure certain defects in the construction and operation of the machine or stamp patented in said Hill patents, Nos. 409,324 and433,003`- in other Words, to simplify the construction of said stamp and render it more practical and durable and to enable it to be operated with greater ease and rapidity and with certainty, and to generally perfect the practical details of its construction, so that the stamp itself may be manufactured cheaply and in large quantities.

A further leading object has been to so construct the device that all its operating parts or mechanism may be inclosed in a protecting case or shell, and thus prevent dust or dirt from interfering with the proper and easy operation of the individually-movable punches and other delicate parts, as well as to protect the accurately and nicely registering mechanism of the stamp from injury by blows or accident.

The nature of the invention or improvements will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and the description following, in connection with the claims summarizing the several features of the invention.

In said drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved perforating-stamp, its inclosing case or shell being alone in section. Fig. 2 is asimilar View showingthe punches depressed, and the base or bed plate is in this figure sectioned to show the paper-feed mechanism. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 vare cross-sections taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and on lines 4 4 and 5 5 of Fig. 2, respectively. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the plane of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the thumb-lever for raising the paper-feed rollers. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the punch-retracting lever. Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof the lever by which motion is communicated to the paper-feed mechanism.

Figs. l0 and 1l are detail views of the fork or slide which carries the pawl for operating the paper-feed mechanism. tail elevation of the operating-lever which carries the reversely socketed matrix by which the punches are operated. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail View of one of the punches. Fig. 14 is a horizontal section on line 14 14 of Fig. 1. Fig. l5 is an end View of the inclosing case or shell. Fig. 16 is a face View of the indicating-disk. Fig. 17 is a cross-section on line 17 17 of Fig. 12,and Fig. 18 is a bottom view of the bottom plate.

In the drawings thc same 'parts are designated by the same lettersof reference throughout all the figures.

Fig. l2 is a de-A By my experience in the practical construcp tion and operation of the perforating-stamps described in said Hillpatents I have found that difficulty is frequently experienced by reason of the retracting-springfailingtowithdrawthe punches from the die or return them to posi tion, such failure necessitating the taking of the stamp apart in order to withdraw `the punches, when much difficulty is experienced in gettingthe nicely-registeringpartstoget again, so that the machine will work pro' erly. And even when this retracting spring' was made very strong (owing to the great number of punches and the delicate character of the mechanism with which the spring was combined) the operation of the stamp as a whole was still uncertain and unsatisfactory, and the force required to compress the spring, added to that required to operate the IOO . large number of punches, rendered the stamp hard to operate and causedit to be undurable and difficult to keep in order. To overcome this uncertainty and to remove this difficulty in the operation of the stamp, as Well as to cause it to operate with ease, I have entirely done away with the retracting-spring for the punches and have combined the series of independently-movable punches and their Withdrawing plate or disk directly with the operating-lever, so that the punches receive motion in both directions positively by the movement of the operating-lever. To facilitate and simplify the construction of the device,I make the frame in two pieces and form the holder or case for the soft-metal punches integral with the upper frame-pieceitself,which is also provided with shoulders to receive the upper and lower guide plates and with a chamber for the punch-withdrawing plate or disk and its operating-lever to reciprocate in, and also with an opening through which the soft-metal guide may be poured into said case or shell.

To protect the operating mechanism from dust or dirt and from danger of injury,it, including the matrix-carrying operating-lever, is inclosed in a protecting case or shell secured rigidly to the bed-plate, and said case is so constructed and combined with the operating-lever that thelatter can have the necessary np-and-down movement wit-hin it, and lthe bed-plate itself is furnished with a removable bottom plate to inclose the paperfeed mechanism between such bottom plate and the bed-plate, the bottom plate itself being furnished with a receptacle to hold the punchings from the paper.

To prevent the wear on the pivot of the operating-lever from interfering with the necessary accurate and delicate registry of the punches with the reversely-sockeied matrix carried by said lever, I provide the punchholder or guide-piece of the frame with a large hollow stud formed integral therewith, which constitutes the pivot or bearing of said lever.

In order to properly and easily combine the revolving matrix-carrying portion of the operating-lever with the pivoted part thereof, the latter is furnished with a bend or shank, through which shank portion the shaftor revolving part of the leverl passes and is secured by a nut or screw and washer tapped into' its end. struction of the device and to facilitate its convenient operation, the reversely-socketed revolving matrix is provided with a single series of registering openings or notches, with which the fixed and accurately-registering pin and the click or spring approximatelyregistering pin both co-operate.

The novel construction and combinations of parts by which these and other new and improved results are attained will now be fully and indetail explained in connection with the drawings.

In order to simplify the con.

In the drawings, A` represents the plate or lower portion of the frame, the same being preferably made of cast-iron nickel-plated.

B is the upper or guide-holder portion of the frame, the same being furnished with a circular hollow base-plate or ring B, secured to the bed-plate A rigidly and rmly by three dowel-pins b and four screws h. The opening b2 through this base-plate B is to receive the pawl-carrying slide or fork by which motion is communicated to the shaft of the paper-feed mechanism, which is mounted beloW the bed-plate A in the hollow chamber A', formed between said bed-plate A and the bottom plate A2. The upper portion B of the frame for convenience'l will hereinafter term the holder, as it holds the soft-metal guide and also the other upper and lower guideplates for the punches. Formed integrally with the holder B is a guide case or shell B2 to receive the punches C, their soft-metal guide C', their lower guide-plate O2, their upper guide-plate C3, and their reciprocating guide or withdrawing plate C4. The holder B or its guide-case B2 is further provided with a lateral opening b3,v through which the soft metal of the guide C may be poured intothe case B2 in a molten condition and while the punches or pins representing the punches are in position and held in position by the upper and lower guide-plates (l2-C2. The holder B is further provided at each end of its guide-case B2 with recesses or shoulders h4 b5 to receive the guide plates C2 and C3, respectively. The lower guide-plate C2 is firmly secured in place by small pins or rivets b b, which are planed koff flush with the lower surface of said guide-plate O2 and 2 of the caser B2. The holder Bis further provided With a large hollow stud B3, formed integral with the holder itself, so as to be perfectly rigid and immovable thereon to serve as the pivot or bearing for the operatinglever or the pivoted portion F thereof. The reversely-socketed matrix -D is rigidly secured to the revoluble part F of the operating lever. The independentlymovable punches C are each provided with a shoulder or enlargement c, against which the withdrawing-plate C4 impinges to Withdraw the punches. The withdrawing-plate C4 [its free and loosely in the case B2 of the holder and lies loosely on top of a U or fork shaped projection f on the end of the operating arm or leverf, which is attached rigidly to the operating-lever F. The fork or U shaped projection f embraces or partially encircles the group of punches, so that the loose with-y and their case B2 and theoperatingarm or lever f with an entirely loose and free withdrawing-plate, which lies loosely on the fork of said operating-arm, I am enabled to withdraw the punches positively, and at the same time permit entire freedom and ease of movement of all the parts, thus also avoiding all binding and danger of injury.

The opening b3 in the case B2 not only serves as the opening through which the soft- Inetal guide is poured into the case, but also to give room for the movement of the operating-arm f. The operating-arm f' for the punch-withdrawing plate or disk is made in a separate piece from the lever F and secured thereto by screws f2 and f3, the screws f2 f2 entering projections or bosses f4f5 on the operating-lever F', for the purpose hereinaiter to be described. The reverselysocketed revolnble matrix D is preferably provided with twelve matrix-faces d, each being reversely socketed to the character designed to be perforated by each face with holes d' to receive those punches of the entire group which are not required to be used to perforate the particular character produced by such matrix-face. Each mat-rixface is also provided with a single registering opening, recess, or notch` d2, formed at the inner end of the matrix and preferably of a U shape, as indicated in the drawings. Coacting with this single series of registering notches d2 on the matrix D is a click or spring registering-pin cl3, having a rounded or camshaped end d4, which is mounted in a socket or hole d5 in the operating-lever F', the same being pressed into engagement with the said registering notches d2 by aspring d, and likewise coacting with the same series of registering notches 612 is a fixed or stationary registering-pin d? secured rigidly to the holder B and projecting upwardly from the end of the guide-case B2. The click or spring registering-pin d2 projects into the registering notches d2 in a direction parallel to the axis of the matrix D, while the fixed registering-pin dT projects into the same registering notches in a direction at right angles to said matrix. The click or spring registering pin d3 is larger in diameter than the registering notches or recesses d2, so that only its rounded end can enter the same, this click-pin serving to approximately register each matrixface with the punches and at the same time permit the matrix to be revolvedeasily and freely. The piu cl2 is held in place in its socket by the end of the matrix D, against which it projects. The fixed registering-pin dT serves to accurately register each matrixface and the punch-holes d therein with the punches. This registering-pin projects up slightly above the punches when they are withdrawn, so that in case the matrix is attempted to be brought down when the matrix-face is not in accurate registry with the punches the matrix will strike against this registeringpin C17 instead of against the punches. 1

The shaft or rotary portion F of the oper ating-lever, and to which the matrix D is rigidly secured, revolves in a hole or bearing f6, which extends entirely through the shank, offset, or shoulder portion flot the lever F', the shaft F being secured in place by a threaded screw or nut f8 and Washer f, the end of the shaft F being properly threaded or tapped for the purpose. The shaft or lever F is furnished at its outer end with a handle F2 and-indicating-disk F3 furnished with a series of characters flo, corresponding to those to be perforated with each of the matrix-faces d. The lever F' is secured in its iixed pivot or bearing B3 by a threaded bolt or screw f 11, which passes through a washer E. The bed-plate A is furnished with a circular shoulder or recess a to receive the die-plate G. The dieplate Gr is furnished with die-holes g, one for each of the punches, and with slots or openings g' g for the lower paper-feed rolls H to project through and thus come in contact with the upper paper-feed rolls K. The upper paper-feed rolls K are mounted on a forked lever K' and it one on each side of the guidecase B2. The holder B or its guide-case B2 is furnished with a lateral projection or arm B4, to which the paper-feed-roll lever K' is pivoted by a pin la. The forked lever K fits astride this projecting arm B4, and the arm BSt is furnished with a spring lo' near its outer end, which serves to press the feed-rollers K down upon the lower feed-rollers H with the pressure required for properly feeding the paper. As the forked lever K' ts astride the arm or projection B4, the latterserves, also, as a stop t'or the lever K' to limit the extent to which the feed-rollers K may be raised. The lever K is a short lever designed tobe operated by the thumb or inger.

The feed-rollers H are secured rigidly to a shaft H', having shouldered ends h, which fit in bearing-blocks h', preferably made of brass, and which are secured by screws to the bedplate A on the bottom side thereof, the screws entering raised ledges or projections'a, with which the bed-plate is provided on its bot-tom side for this purpose. This makes a very convenient and cheap way ofjournaling or mounting the feed-wheel shaft below the bed-plate. The feed-wheel shaft H' is furnished with a ratchet-wheel H2 and collar H2, between which and astride the shaft reciprocates the fork or slide P, carrying the two-pronged pivoted locking-pawlP'. One prong p of this pawl engages the ratchet-wheel on one side and serves to turn it the space of one tooth when the other 'or locking-prong p' of the pawl engages the ratchet-wheel on the opposite side and locks it in position, thus insuring a perfectly even and regular feed of the paper at each stroke of the operating-lever and a uniform spacing between the letters perforated by the stamp. The pawl P' is pivoted by a pin p2 to the slide or fork P and is held in position so that the prong p will properly engage the ratchet-wheel. at the downstrokeof said slide P by a sprinvjpi, mounted in a hole Vor chamber p5 in the .e P, and which presses IOO IIO

,against a pin p6, secured to the pawl P. The slide or fork I is preferably made of brass, and the opening through which the springp4 y is inserted may be preferably closed by solder'ps. The fork or slide P is connected or pivoted to an operating-lever T by a pin t, which passes through a slot t. `The lever T is pivoted to the hollow stud f4, formed onthe lever F, and to which it is secured by the operating arm f and the screw f2, passing Athrough the same. The arm f thus operates as a Washer or holding-plate for the lever T, and the same screw f2 serves to hold them both in place. The lever T has a movable fulcrum t2, consisting, preferably, of a friction Wheel or roller, which rolls back and forth on the horizontal iiange or web B5 of the holder B as the lever F vibrates up and down. As the paper can of course only beV fed forward when the punches C are withdrawn therefrom, I make the arm of the lever T, which is connected to the lever F, co mparatively short and provide said lever T with the rolling or movable fulcrum and furnishr ,it with an actuating-spring S, so that the fork or slide P and its paWl P may receiveaquick and rapidA downward movement at the last portion of the upstroke of the operating-lever F. By this means I insure the entire withdrawal of the punches from the paper before any movement is communicated to the feedwheel, and at the same time I secure the requisite long stroke of the pawl and slide necessary to give the required movement to the paper. The spring S bears at one end against an arm or projection t3 on the lever T and is secured at its other end in a socket or holder E' on the washer E, said washerbeing provided with a leg or projection E2, which bears against the base-ring B of the holder VB to keep the Washer and the spring carried thereby in place.

The bottom plate A2 is secured to the bedl .plate A by screws a2, so that it may be con-A veniently removed. The bed-plate A at its lowerrim or ange is furnished with ashoullder or recess a4 to form a seat for the bottom plate A2. The bed-plate A is further provided with rubber feet or cushions a5 to prevent its marring the table or desk upon which it is placed. Cast integrally with the bottom plate A2 is a cup or receptacle A3, which registers with the die-plate G, so as to receive the bits of paper from the punching. This receptacle A3 is furnished with an opening in its bottom, l

closed by a pivoted slide A4, so that the receptacle may be emptied from time to time, as required, Without removing the bottom plate from the bed-plate A. Secured to the bedplate A by screws n is a hollow case or shell N, Vhaving a base flange or rim n', encircling the base-liange B of the holder B, and which incloses said holder and the mechanism carried by it, including the matrix and the matrix-operating lever. This case or cover N is furnished with an elliptical-shaped iange or collar N at its end to receive theindicatin gdisk F3 and permit its up-and-dovvn movement with the operating lever F F, by which it is carried. The flange or rim N is furnished with an index point or pin' N2 at its top to coact with the indicating-disk F3, carried by the revolving part F of the operating-lever. The indicating-disk F3 also co-operates with the case or shell N to close the opening in its end N. It should also be stated that the holder B is furnished with a centering-flange b7 at its base-ring B, which fits in the hole or opening 4 formed in the bed-plate A.

The guide-case B is provided with a pin or projection b2 to aid in holding the soft-metal guide C in place.

I claim- 1. In a perforating-stamp, the combination, with a group of independently movable punches and their corresponding female die, of a guide for said punches, a reciprocating plate for withdrawing said punches, a lever carrying a matrix for operating said punches, and an arm or lever for operating said punch-withdrawing plate, connected with said matrix-operating lever, said punches having each a shoulder or enlargement to engage said Withdrawing-plate, substantially as specified.

2. In aperforating-stamp, the combination, with a group of independently movable punches and their correspondingfemale die, of a guide for said punches, a reciprocating plate for withdrawing said punches, a lever carrying a matrix for operating said punches, and an arm or lever for operating said punch-Withdrawing plate, connected With said-matriX-operating lever, said punches having each a shoulder or enlargement to engage said with-` drawing-plate, said punches fitting freely in the holes of said withdrawing-plate and said withdrawing-plate being loose on its operating-arm, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a die-plate, of a set of independently-movable punches, a guide for said punches, a reciprocating withdrawing-plate for said punches, alever for operating the punches, and an arm f', connected to said operating-lever and furnished with a fork f, embracing the set of punches for operating said withdrawing-plate, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with die-plate G, of a set of independently-movable punches C, each furnished with a shoulder or enlargement c, a guide for said punches, a withdrawing-plate O4 for said punches, a revoluble matrix D, and an operating-lever F F ,furnished with an arm f for operating said withdrawing-plate, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the die-plate G, of a set of independently-movable punches C, each furnished with a shoulder or enlargement c, a guide for said punches, a Withdrawing-plate O4 for said punches, a revoluble matriX D, and an operating-lever F F', furnished with an arm f for operating said withdrawing-plate, said operating-arm having a fork or U shaped lifter f, embracing said punches and on which said withdrawing-plate rests loosely, substantially as specified.

6. In a perforating-stamp, the combination,

with the series of independentlymovable' punches, of a guide therefor, a female die for said punches, a matrix for operating the operating-lever is pivoted, said guide being also carried by said holder, whereby the matrix, the die, and the punches are maintained in proper registry with each other, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with bed-plate A, furnlshed with die-plate G, of holder B, furnished with integral guide-case B2 and integral pivotstud B3, a set of independently movable punches C, furnished with shoulders or enlargements c, a guide for said punches, a mal"Itrix D, a lever-shaft F, to which said matrix l1s secured, and a lever F', pivoted on said stud B3, upon which said lever-shaftF isjournaled, and a punch-withdrawing plate C4 and means for operating said plate, substantially `as specified.

8. The combination, with bed-plate A, t'urnished with die-plate G, of holder B, furnished vWith integral guide-case B2 and integral pivotstud B3, a set of independentlymovable punches C, furnished with shoulders or enlargements c, a guide for said punches, a matrix D, a lever-shaft F, to which said matrix is secured, and a lever F', pivoted ou said stud B3 and upon which lever said lever-shaft F is journaled, a punch-withdrawing plate C4, and an operating-arm f' therefor, connected `with said lever F', substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with bedplate A, furnished with die-plate G, of holder B, furnished with integral guide-case B3 and integral pivot-stud B3, a set of independently-movable punches C, furnished with shoulders or enlargements c, a guide for said punches, a matrix D, a lever-shaft F, to which said matrix` is secured, and a lever F', pivoted on said stud B3 and upon which lever said lever-shaft F is ljournaled, a punch-withdrawing plate C4, and an operating-arm f' therefor, connected with said lever F, said arm f' having a fork f embracing said group of punches, substantially as specified.

10. The combination, with bed-plate A, furnished with die-plate G, of holder B,'furnished with integral guide-case B2 and integral pivot-stud B3, a set of independently-movable punches C, furnished with shoulders or en largements c, a guide for said punches, a matrix D, a lever-shaft F, to which said matrix is secured,and aleverF',pivoted on saidstud B3 and upon which lever said lever-shaft F is journaled, said holder B or its guide-case B2 having a lateral opening b3 and said guide comprising a lower guide-plate C3 and a softmetal guide C', and a punch withdrawing plate C5 and means for operating the same, substantially as specified.

having a lateral opening b3, said guide comf prising a lower guide-plate C3 and asoft-metal guide C' and an upper guide-plate C3, and a punch-withdrawing-plate C4 and means for operating' the same, substantially as specified.

12. In a perforatingstamp, the combination, with the bed-plate A, having a die-plate G secu red thereto, of a paper-feed wheel and shaft mou nted below said bed-plate, a holder B,

carrying punches, a guide for the punches and mechanism for operating the punches and provided with a hollow base-plate or ring B', secured to said bed-plate around an opening therein, and a device for communicating motion to said paper-feed-wheel shaft, operating through said hollow base-plate or ring B' and the opening in the bed-plate, said device consisting of a fork or slide P, carrying a pawl P', the paper-feed-wheel shaft heilig furnished with a ratchet and means for operating said slide P, substantially as specified.

13. The combination, with bed-plate A, ot die G, holder B, having hollow base-plate or -ring B', secured to said bed-plate around an opening therein, paper-feed wheels H and shaft H', mounted below said bed-plate and furnished with a ratchet H3, slide or fork P, furnished with pawl P', a set of independently-movable punches C, a guide therefor and matrix and lever for operating the same, and a lever T for communicating motion to said fork or slide, said lever T being connected to said operating-lever and having its fulcrum on said holder B, substantially as specified.

14. The combination, with bed-plate A, of die G, holder B, having hollow base-plate or ring B', secured to said bed-plate around an opening therein, paper -feed wheels H and shaft H', mounted below said bed-plate and furnished with a ratchet H3, slide or fork P, furnished with pawl Pa set of independently-movable punches C, a guide therefor and matrix and lever for operating the same, and a lever T for communicating motionto said fork or slide, said holder B having a flange B5 and said lever T being connected to said matrix-operating lever and furnished with a rolling or movable fulcrum resting on said flange B5 of the holder, substantially as specified.

15. In a perforating-stamp, the combination, with the bed-plate, of a paper-feed-wheel shaft mounted below the bed-plate, a holder B, having a lateral ange B5, an operatinglever F', pivoted to said holder, a slide or fork P, furnished with a pawl P', a ratchet on said feed-wheel shaft, and a lever T, having its short arm pivoted to said operating-lever F' IOC IIO

and its long arm pivotally connected with its fork or slide P, said lever having a movable fulcrum t2 resting on said ledge or flange B5, substantially as specied. l

16. In a perforating-stamp, the combination,with the bed-plate, of a paper-feed-wheel shaft mounted below the bed-plate, a holder B, having a lateral fiange B5, an operatinglever F', pivoted to said holder, a slide or fork P, furnished with a pawl P', a ratchet on said feed-wheel shaft, and a lever T, having its short arm pivoted to said operating-lever F' and its long arm pivotally connected with its fork or slide P, said lever having a movable fulcrum t2 resting on said ledge or fiange B5, and a spring S for giving a quick movement to said pawl-carrying slide, substantially as specified.

17. In a perforating-stamp, the combination, with the bed-plate, of a paper-feed-wheel shaft mounted below the bed-plate, a holder B, having a lateral ange B5, an operatinglever F', pivoted to said holder, a slide or fork P, furnished with a pawl P', a ratchet on said feed-wheel shaft, and a lever T, having its short arm pivoted to said operating-lever F' and its long arm pivotally connected with its fork or slide P, said lever having a movable fulcrum t2 resting on said ledge or fiange B5, said movable fulcrum consisting of an antifriction roller or wheel, substantially as specified.

18. In a perforating-stamp, the combination, with bed-plate A, of holder B, secured thereto,a set of punches, their guide, and operating-lever mounted on said holder B, and a holloviT case or shell N, inclosing said holder B, the punches, and their operating-lever and Within which said operating-lever vibrates, said case or shell N having a collar or fiange N' at its open end and said operating-lever being furnished with a disk F3, closing the opening in the end of said shell, substantially as specified.

19. In a perforatingstamp, the combination, with bed-plate A, of die-plate G, holder B, secured to said bed-plate, a group of independently-movable punches C and their guide carried by said holder, a matrix D for operating said punches, a rotatable pivotal operating-lever F F', to the rotatable part or shaft F of which said matrix is secured, a case or shell N, inclosing said holder and the mechanism carried thereby and furnished with an open end or rim N', and an indicatingdisk F3, secured to said shaft F, said holder N having an index point orHmark/NZ, substantially as specified.

20. The combination, in a perforatingstamp, with a set of independently-movable punches, theirmatrix, guide, and the punchwithdrawing plate, of the holder B, having stud BS, the part F' of the operating-lever pivoted on said stud B3 and furnished with an arm f' for operating the punch-withdrawing plate, and a lever T, connected to said part F' of the lever for communicating motion to the paper-feed mechanism, the paperfeed mechanism, and the part F of said operating-lever, carrying said matrix, substantially as specified.

21. The combination, with a set of independently-movable punches, their matrix, guide, and punch-withdrawing plate, of the holder B, having stud B3, an operating-lever consisting of two partsF and F', said part F being revoluble on said part F' and carrying said matrix and said part F' being pivoted on said stud B3 and furnished with arm f for operating the punch-withdrawing plate, paper-feed mechanism, and a lever T, connected to said part F' of the lever for communicating motion to the paper-feed mechanism, said part F' having studs F4 F5, to which said-arm f' is secured by screws and to one of which said lever T is pivoted, substantially as specified.

22. The combination, with a set of independently-movable punches, their matrix, guide, and punch-withdrawing plate, of the holder B, having stud B3, an operating-lever consisting of two parts F and F', said part F being revoluble on said part F' and carrying said matrix and said part F' being pivoted on said stud B3 and furnished with armf' for operating the punch-withdrawing plate, paper-feed mechanism, and a lever T, connected to said part F' of Athe lever for communicating motion to the paper-feed mechanism, said part F' having studs F4 Fito whichv said arm f' is secured by screws and to one of which said lever T is pivoted, and said holder B having a ledge or flange B5, upon' which the fulcrum of said lever T rests, substantially as specified.

23. In a perforating-stamp, the holder B, furnished with integral guide-case B2 for the punches and a soft metal guide for the punches in said case, said holder being also provided with an integral stud B3 to serve. as the pivot for the operating-lever, in combination with aset of independently-movable punches, a matrix, and an operating -lever carrying said matrix and pivoted to said stud B3, substantially as specified.

BENJAMIN F. CUMMINS.

Witnesses:

I-I. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND ADoooK.

IIO 

